Survey bids to identify prime sites for hotels in local towns

Survey bids to identify prime sites for hotels in local towns

23 March 2016

A SURVEY to identify prime sites for potential new hotel developments in Downpatrick and Newcastle is to get underway shortly.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council has this week agreed to commission a report which will examine sites in both towns and work with the private sector to help formulate business cases which could lead to new multi-million pound developments.

It’s understood the survey will be undertaken by senior council officials. The provision of new hotels in the district is one of the local authority’s main priorities as it aims to build on the area’s tourism offering.

Last year, politicians approved the findings of an accommodation study which outlined a series of recommendations around the district’s future needs, highlighting the need for new hotels in Newcastle and Downpatrick in particular.

Council officers were given the green light to work up proposals and it was confirmed at Monday night’s meeting of the local authority’s Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee they are currently working with a number of developers across the district keen to provide new hotels.

Each of the projects are at different stages of development and council officials are now examining the viability of specific sites in both Newcastle and Downpatrick. The exact locations have not been made public.

The Annesley Buildings in Newcastle has previously been identified as a base for a new hotel in the resort, while the former Abbey Lodge Hotel site at the Belfast Road in Downpatrick was purchased by a businessman earlier this year. It is not yet known what his plans are for this site.

A site at the Downshire Civic Centre in the town was previously examined by a potential hotel investor as was Down Council’s former Strangford Road headquarters.

Councillor Dermot Curran, the chairman of the local authority’s Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee, believes there is a need for more hotel accommodation across the district.

He is delighted the focus will be concentrated in Downpatrick and Newcastle and hopes those interested in providing new hotels will be encouraged by local authority support.

“For many years the need for more hotels in the district has been highlighted. Newcastle is the jewel in the district’s tourism crown and the current Newcastle Centre has been identified as a prime site for a new hotel,” said Councillor Curran.

“Downpatrick should have a town centre hotel to encourage more visitors to stay there, boosting our tourism economy and complementing existing accommodation. I am pleased there is private sector interest in providing new hotels and hope it won’t be long before firm proposals are worked up and made public.”

Councillor Curran said with Newry, Mourne and Down Council putting tourism at the top of its agenda and maximising the area’s many assets, it is important there is adequate hotel accommodation.

He hopes investors can be persuaded to firm up proposals for new hotels in Downpatrick and Newcastle with the investment providing a boost for the local construction industry and help create new jobs in the service sector.

Councillor Curran added: “The provision of new hotels across the district is vitally important if we are to increase our visitor numbers. 

While I appreciate a lot of the information around proposed developments is commercially sensitive, I hope details of proposed schemes can be made public soon. The council is keen to broaden its tourist base to attract more visitors. If we are to achieve that, we require new hotel accommodation.”